PLEASANTON — The water slides at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area will likely stay closed another summer even if someone is found to repair and run them, park officials say.

The privately operated slides were closed last summer for the first time in 40 years because of extensive needed repairs.

East Bay Regional Park District officials haven’t given up on saving the slides — at least not yet — as they look for an operator to renovate, reopen and run the attraction popular with children, families and summer camps.

The district announced Friday it is giving recreation businesses until Dec. 20 to submit proposals to fix up and run the slides. That schedule doesn’t seem to leave enough time for a new operator to be selected and to finish improvements to reopen next summer, park district administrators said.

The district expects to take months to evaluate proposals, pick the best one and iron out contract details. More time is also needed to get land-use approval from Pleasanton for the renovations, officials said.

“It would be difficult to open this summer,” said Jim O’Connor, a park district assistant general manager.

Ayn Wieskamp, a regional park board member from Livermore, agreed a summer reopening is unlikely, but she said the search for an operator will be worth it if it ends up saving the attraction.

“There is a due process in our search,” she said. “Who knows? Maybe a concessionaire could move faster than we anticipate.”

If no business comes forward, park officials have said they may close the slides forever.

In its website notice, park officials say they want an experienced recreation operator to accept a 10-year operational deal — an initial five years plus an option to renew for five more years.

The operator would share part of its gross revenue with the park district, according to the notice.

Park district consultants have estimated it might cost $885,000 for renovations to ready the slides for reopening.

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